A telescope is mounted on a tripod 5 ft above the ground and

A telescope is mounted on a tripod 5 ft above the ground and 20 ft from a flagpole. the telescope must be rotated 52 degree from horizontal to see the top of the flagpole. How tall is the flagpole?

Solution

Solution:

Since telescope is located 5 feet above ground

and it makes and angle of 52 degree with top of flag

It all make an right triangle with base 20 feet and 52 degree angle

and 5 feet above ground

now we know that

tan() = Height / Base

tan (52) = Height /20

Height = 20 x tan(52)

Height = 25.598 = 25.6 feet

Total height of flagpone from ground = 5 +25.6 = 30.6 feet

Answer.